Typographical composing machine



Sept. 14, 1954 J. H. HILPMAN TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 7, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 14, 1954 J. H. HILPMAN TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING MACHINE Original Filed Sept. '7, 1950 f 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 (lo/Ba 15! 19/1002 Sept. 14, 1954 J. H. HILPMAN ,689,

I TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 7, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet :5

wvewroe 1/060 15 19/10/1701:

' 47%msra I, o LM W- Sept. 14, 1954 J. H. HILPMAN TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 7, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTD/P 066/7 H f/lZbma/J pl: z p Z;

' Al T RAIL Y5 p 1954 J. H. HILPMAN TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 7, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR A ORNEYS 110% HMO/170a Patented Sept. 14, 1954 TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING MACHINE John H. Hilpman, Springfield Gardens, N. Y., as-

signor to Mergenthaler Linotype Company, a corporation of New York Original application September 7, 1950, Serial No.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 183,620, now Patent No. 2,667,265, dated January 26, 1954. Divided and this application February 7, 1952, Serial No. 270,471

No. 436,532, wherein circulating matrices are released from a magazine in the order in which their characters are to appear in print, the composed line transferred to the face of a mold, the

mold filled with molten metal to form a slug or linotype against the matrices which produce the type characters thereon, and the matrices thereafter returned through distributing mechanism to the magazine from which they started.

More particularly, it relates to that class of mixing machines designed to handle matrix fonts which differ from one another in the size and number of characters, for example, the regular ninety character text fonts used exclusively for the composition of straight matter, and the special seventy-two character fonts used for the composition of head letter or'display matter.

The matrix storage magazines employed in machines of thisclass are of standard size and shape (although certain features of the present invention are particularly applicable to magazines of the wide variety), but differ in the number and arrangement of their matrix channels, the regular magazines being provided with ninety-one channels spaced apart in the usual way to accommodate the matrix columns of the text fonts, while the display magazines are provided with but seventy-three channels spaced apart in a different way to accommodate the matrix columns of the larger special fonts. The magazines are arranged in superposed pairs, each pair comprising a ninety character magazine and a seventy-two character magazine, and the matrices stored therein can be selectively released from either by the operation of the same keyboard and without the necessity of raising or lowering the magazines. Moreover, after the casting operation has been completed the matrices are automatically returned and redistributed into the proper channels of the magazine from which they were released.

In view of the fact that a single keyboard is employed to effect the release of the matrices from two separate magazines having different numbers and spacings of matrix escapement devices, it has been customary to provide separate groups of connecting devices in the form of long reeds as the means for mechanically connecting the keyboard to the magazine escapements, one group of said reeds serving to operate the ninety character magazineescapements and the other group serving to operate the seventy-two character magazine escapements. In addition, a movable throat section is generally provided, capable of adjustment so as to conduct matrices from either adjacent magazine into a channeled raceway or front plate common to both magazines. Various shifting mechanisms for adjusting the throat section into registry with the selected magazine and for automatically connecting the appropriate group of reeds have been heretofore disclosed, one of the more recent disclosures being described in U. S. patent to Frolander No. 2,399,999, but the shifting mechanism herein shown and described is of the kind disclosed in co-pending application Serial No. 183,620, filed September 7, 1950, now U. S. Patent No. 2,667,265, wherein the two groups of long connecting reeds are mounted in a frame which is hinged at the top, permitting the lower ends of either group to be selectively brought into operative alignment with the keyboard elements.

The present invention is directed to a new and improved arrangement of the connecting reeds to enable a standard width keyboard to be used in association with magazines of much greater than standard width.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a portion of a Linotype machine equipped with the present improvements;

Fig. 2 is a-view similar to that shown in Fig. 1 with the parts in a different shifted position;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line Fig. 4 is a front elevation showing the arrangement of the long connecting reeds and the shiftable frame thereof;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing the arrangement of the long connecting reeds in greater detail; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary front elevation, showing the operation of one of the connecting reeds.

As shown in Fig. l, the machine is equipped with four superposed magazines, A A A and A capable of being raised and lowered in the machine frame by operation of a crank handle B in order to bring either the upper or lower pair of magazines into operative relation with the assembler entrance C andthe distributing mechanism (not shown). The second and fourth magazines A and A are of the regular or standard magazines A and A are of a different form and adapted to contain the special seventy-two character display fonts.

The assembler entrance C includes an upper brackets O and provided witha crank. arm C operable to swing the throat section forwardlyand backwardly in effectingits adjustments. An

overhead banking screw U (see Fig. 2), secured to the side plate of the machine frame and arranged to engage the upper edge of the crank.

arm C locates the throat section C in its forwardly adjusted position, i. e. in registry with the lower end of the throat section C while a similar screw (not shown), also secured to the side plate '0 and arranged to engage the under edge of the crank arm C locates thethroat section C? in its rearwardly adjusted position, i. e. in registry-with the bridge member C In either of its adjusted positions, the throat section C is adapted to conduct the matrices released from the selected magazine into afixed vertically disposed channeled raceway C from which the matrices are directed to the assembler proper for composition in line.

Each of the several magazines is provided with matrix releasing escapements a; and the actuating devices therefore include, generally, a series of fore-and-aft pivoted levers D, a corresponding .seriesof actuating slides D carried by the throat section C and a series of small actuating elements D mounted in the throat section C and operable by the slides D The levers D are controlled from a keyboard E through the medium of two sets of vertical reeds D D which will be described in detail below.

The adjustment of the throat section C into either of its alternate positions is made by a hand lever F which, as shown in Fig. 3, is attached to one end of a short shaft F mounted in the front bracket 0 of the machine. frame.- At theopposite end of the shaft F a small rocker arm F is attached and connected to a bell crank F by means of a link F Thebell crank F is fast to a short rock shaft F and the horizontally disposed arm thereof is pivotally connected to a long rod F which extends vertically upward and is loosely connected to the crank arm C by means of-a pivot pin F projecting into an elongated slot formed in the arm. The pin F is carried by a lever F which is pivotally mounted on the shaft C for the crank arm C Conventional locking mechanism G, suchas disclosed in the Frolander Patent No. 2,399,999, is

employed for locking the throat section 0 in its different adjusted positions and for releasing it preparatory to its adjustments.

As explained hereinabove, separate setsv of vertical reeds D D are provided for actuating the fore-and-aft levers D, the reeds D being the operative set to release the matrices from the upper operative magazine A when the throat section C is in its forward position in registry with the lower. end of the throat section C (Fig. 2), and the reeds D being the. operative set, to release the matrices from the lower operative magazine A when the throat section C is in its rearward position in registry with the bridge member C (Fig. 1). Both sets of reeds D D are slidably supported in an adjustable frameJ throughrslots 4 in the lower L-shaped plates J J and the upper flat plates J J Also the reeds situated at the left hand side of the machine are given additional support and guidance by the slotted brace R (Fig. 4)

The reed frame J is hinged at the-top in end supports J attached to the side plates 0 of the machine frame, in such a way that the entire frame can be swung to bring the lower ends of either set of reeds D D into alignment with. a single. set of actuators E operated from the keyboard E' while maintaining the upper ends of the reeds of both sets in engaging relation to the overlying levers D. Both sets of reeds D D** are provided at their lower ends with shoulders adapted. to bank on a supporting bar J carried bythe reed frame (see Figs. 4 to 6).

The shifting of the reed frame J, like the shifting' of the throat section C is accomplished under the control of the hand lever F. A lever J is fixed to the short rock shaft'F and a: lever J is likewise fixed to asecond long rock shaftJ, the latter extending across the entire width of the reed frame (Fig. 3) The levers J" andJQ-are pivotally connected by a link l0, and hence the shaft J 8 may be rocked in either direction'under the control of the hand lever F. Also fixed to the shaft J are two further levers J pivotally connected by links J to the lower end of the reed frame J near its opposite edges. It is; therefore, clear that when the hand lever F is raised tobring the throat section C into registry with the throat section C the reed frame J will at the-same time be pivoted in its supporting bearings J to bring the set of reeds D into operative alignmentwith the keyboard actuators E (Fig. 2). Likewise, when the hand lever F is depressed to adjustthe throat section C into registry with the bridge member C the reed frame will again be pivoted in its supporting bearings to bringtheset of reeds D into operative association withthe: key controlled actuators E (Fig. 1). i

In order to lighten the burden of operatingzthe handlever F and, particularly, tocounterbalance the weight of the adjustable throat section 0. a weightC is pivotally suspended from the bracket 0 by means of the lever C whichis pivotally connected to the lowermost extremity of. the crank arm C by a connecting link 0 The lever C is provided with a screw extension 0. to whichthe weight C is threadablyconnectedso that the counterbalancing force can be varied to meet different conditions.

Coming now to the present invention: When magazines of the wide variety are employed, the width of the lower discharge end thereof is.much greater than the width of the. keyboard E,.gener.,- ally protruding to the right of and beyond said keyboard. As shown in Fig. 4, many of the reeds D D at the right hand side of the machine. are bent laterally to the right in order to actuatethe escapements a located beyond and to the right of the cam controlled actuators E These. reeds are made somewhat thicker and stronger than or.- dinarily so that they will not be unduly weakened by the degree of bending required. Also, as best shown in Fig. 5, the bent or diagonal portion of every other reed D of the group D is offset in a forward edgewise directionso that its rear edge d will stand clear of the forward edge (1 ofthe adjacent reed to the right. Likewise, the bentor diagonal portion of every other reed D of the group D is offset ina rearward edgewise direction so that its forward edge 12 will stand. clear of the rear edge 11. of the adjacent reed. to the right. The vertical end portions of all reeds of either group are, however, in transverse alignment and parallel, as usual, to cooperate with the keyboard actuators E at their lower ends and with the escapement levers D at their upper ends. As the reeds are thus constructed, and as illustrated in Fig. 6, when a non-offset reed D or D is raised to release a matrix, its'bent or diagonal portion will be free to move past the bent or diagonal portion of the adjacent offset reed to the left and thus avoid any interference between adjacent reeds notwithstanding their close spacing.

This application is a true division of parent application Serial No. 183,620, filed September '7, 1950, now U. S. Patent No. 2,667,265.

What is claimed is:

1. In or for a typographical composing machine, escapement actuating mechanism comprising a series of vertically movable reeds arranged side by side in closely spaced relation, each reed presenting two vertical end portions disposed in laterally displaced vertical planes, and an intermediate diagonal portion connecting the two vertical end portions, the diagonal portions of said reeds being inclined in the same direction and arranged in substantially parallel relation, the diagonal portions of alternate reeds being offset in an edgewise direction with reference to th diagonal portions of the intermediate reeds, with the rear edge of the diagonal portion of one reed positioned forwardly of the forward edges of the diagonal portions of the next two adjacent reeds, whereby to prevent interference between adjacent reeds in their vertical movements.

2. In or for a typographical composing machine, escapement actuating mechanism comprising a series of vertically movable reeds arranged Side by side in closely spaced relation, each reed presenting two vertical end portions disposed in lateral displaced vertical planes, and

an intermediate diagonal portion connecting the two vertical end portions, the diagonal portions of said reeds being inclined in the same direction and arranged in substantially parallel relation, the diagonal portions of alternate reeds being offset forwardly in an edgewise direction with reference to the diagonal portions of the intermediate reeds, with the rear edge of the forwardly offset diagonal portion of one reed positioned forwardly of the forward edges of the diagonal portions of the next two adjacent reeds. whereby to prevent interference between adjacent reeds in their vertical movements.

3. In or for a typographical composing maprising a series of vertically movable reeds arranged side by side in closely spaced relation, each reed presenting two vertical end portions disposed in laterally displaced vertical planes, and an intermediate diagonal portion connecting the two vertical end portions, the diagonal portions of said reeds being inclined in the same direction and arranged in substantially parallel relation, the diagonal portions of alternate reeds being offset rearwardly in an edgewise direction with reference to the diagonal portions of the intermediate reeds, with the front edge of the rearwardly offset diagonal portion of one reed positioned rearwardly of the rear edges of the diagonal portions of the next two adjacent reeds, whereby to prevent interference between adjacent reeds in their vertical movements.

4. In or for a typographical composing machine, escapement actuating mechanism comprising two series of vertically movable reeds, one series being arranged behind the other, the reeds in each series bein arranged in closely spaced relation and each reed in each series presenting two vertical end portions disposed in laterally displaced vertical planes, and an intermediate diagonal portion connecting the two vertical end portions, the diagonal portions of the reeds in both series being inclined" in the same direction and arranged in substantially parallel relation in each series, th diagonal portions of alternate reeds in the front series being offset forwardly in an edgewise direction with reference to the diagonal portions of intermediate reeds, with the rear edge of the forwardly offset diagonal portion of one reed positioned forwardly of the forward edges of the diagonal portions ofthe next two adjacent reeds, and the diagonal portions of alternate reeds in the rear series being offset rearwardly in an edgewise direction with reference to the diagonal portions of the intermediate reeds, with the front edge of the rearwardly offset diagonal portion of one reed positioned rearwardly of the rear edges of the diagonal por tions of the next two adjacent reeds, whereby to prevent interference between adjacent reeds in either series in their vertical movements.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

